Let’s face it—vacuuming can be a chore. It takes too long, and as soon as you’re done, it feels like you need to do it all over again. But how often do you really need to vacuum? It depends on what needs vacuuming. Carpeted areas that aren’t used by four-legged fur-friends should be vacuumed twice every week. Hardwood and tile need the least amount of upkeep and should be vacuum cleaned once per week. But what if you do have a little furry friend? If you have pets, you should do a quick vacuum once a day.
Even if you dread vacuuming more than cleaning grout, for the sake of home health, you know it has to be done. So why not have a vacuuming game plan? Let the pets out, turn up the music, and let’s make this vacuuming thing a whole lot easier!
Vacuuming Room by Room
Rooms you spend the most time in will obviously need to be vacuumed more often than rooms that are typically unoccupied. High traffic areas like hallways, kitchen, child playrooms, foyers, and mudrooms should be vacuumed weekly. Consistent foot traffic and more people in and out, means more dirt and outside stuff tracked into the house.
Bedrooms, especially those with carpet, should be vacuumed at least once a week and twice a week during allergy season. Less-often used spaces such as guest rooms, sunrooms, or formal dining rooms can be vacuumed less frequently or just before you’re expecting company.
Improving Effectiveness
Before you start to vacuum, prep the room. Pick up small items so they don’t damage your vacuum cleaner and slow you down. Work from top of the room down, so you don’t clean things twice. Next, dust the room so the buildup on furniture and other items falls to the floor where it can be vacuumed up. Make sure your vacuum cleaner is fully charged and the bag or dust compartment is empty. Use attachments, as needed, to clean hard surfaces and ceiling fans. Use a smaller duster for harder-to-reach places where lifting your vacuum might be too much of a strain. Actively seek out dust, dander, and dirt in hard to spot areas like corners, under tables, chairs, and other furniture. Now you’re ready to follow these tips to help you vacuum like a pro.
Related Topic: How to Clean Your House for Pet Allergies
Choosing the Right Vacuum
A good vacuum cleaner shouldn’t disperse dust into the air. If it does, it’s broken or not very useful. You’re trying to remove dirt, dust, and dander from the home, not add to it. If this sounds like your current vacuum, it’s time for a new one. When shopping for a new vacuum, decide if you prefer a canister or upright model—there are pros and cons for both types.
It’s important to pick a vacuum cleaner that meets your needs. Concerned about airborne allergens? Some models come with HEPA filters and other allergy-specific features. Need a super pet hair cleaner? Other models are specifically designed to handle pet hair. If you’re more interested in a vacuum that is light and portable—for carrying up and down the stairs—there are plenty of options to choose from. In fact, there are enough options available to meet just about any specific need and requirement. Reading customer reviews can help you make your final decision. Once you’ve made a purchase, it’s important to maintain your new appliance, so it functions properly for years of use.
Related Topic: How to Create a Daily, Weekly and Monthly Cleaning Schedule You Can Live With
Maintaining Your Vacuum
It’s not difficult to wash and maintain your vacuum. Appliances like your vacuum need to be regularly cleaned and maintained to operate efficiently for an extended period of time. However, unlike the washing machine or dishwasher, a vacuum requires more frequent maintenance—like cleaning or replacing the air filter(s). Following the manufacturer’s recommendation for cleaning and maintenance should keep your vacuum running smoothly for a long time.
Although this might seem like a daunting task, it usually doesn’t require much more than a screwdriver and a few extra minutes to complete. However, be safe and always refer to the owner’s manual for the proper way to maintain your vacuum. If you’ve lost or misplaced the owner’s manual, request a new one from the manufacturer. Even more convenient, most brands post their owner’s manuals online.
A Sparkling Clean Home Has Its Rewards
Leading a busy, active life doesn’t mean your home, or you, have to suffer. While it’s true that vacuuming probably isn’t high on your list of favorite things to do, maintaining a clean, healthy home environment is important. So how can you have it all? Molly Maid offers hassle-free, regular, cleaning services that are completely customizable to your personal schedule. Contact Molly Maid today to get a free estimate on how to make life easier and your home spotless.
FAQs
Carpeted areas that aren't used by four-legged fur-friends should be vacuumed twice every week. Hardwood and tile need the least amount of upkeep and should be vacuum cleaned once per week. But what if you do have a little furry friend? If you have pets, you should do a quick vacuum once a day.
How often should a house be vacuumed? ›
Depending on the traffic in a room, the frequency that you choose to vacuum could be more. However, according to experts, it is recommended that you vacuum every room in your home at least once or twice a week to ensure that dust and other allergen particles do not settle into the cracks of the floorboards permanently.
How often should you vacuum if you have pets? ›
How Often Should You Clean Your Carpets With Pets In The Home? Pet owners should clean carpets by vacuuming one to two times a week to keep up on loose pet hair, pet dander, and tracked dirt. Pet owners seeking a deeper carpet clean should shampoo carpet three to four times per year.
Do maids bring their own vacuum? ›
Can house cleaners bring their own vacuum? Yes, most cleaning companies will be happy to bring their own vacuum if that's what they need to do. It's best to let them know ahead of time as some companies may assume that there will be a vacuum available- at least in most residential situations.
How often should you use a vacuum cleaner? ›
In light traffic areas, a weekly vacuum is sufficient. However, in high-traffic zones like hallways or living rooms, twice a week is advisable. If you have pets or allergy sufferers at home, you might need to vacuum three times a week to keep the environment fresh and free from allergens.
How long should a housekeeper take to clean a room? ›
Creating a housekeeping strategy
It takes roughly 45 minutes for a housekeeping attendant to completely clean a room, although it may take less time if only a basic turn-down service is needed.
Is vacuuming every other day too much? ›
It is recommended to vacuum 2 to 3 times a week in high traffic areas and 1 to 2 full home cleanings weekly. But if daily works best for you, it is perfectly fine to do so.
How often should you mop your floors with pets? ›
High traffic areas prone to getting dirty—like the entryway, kitchen, and bathrooms—can benefit from more frequent cleaning. And if you have pets, your home accumulates a lot of dust, or have children who play on the floor, then mopping multiple times a week (or even daily) may be best.
How often should I sweep floors? ›
Sweeping is an essential part of floor maintenance, as it helps to remove dirt and debris that can scratch and damage the surface. The frequency of sweeping will depend on the type of flooring in your home and the factors mentioned above. Generally, you should aim to sweep your floors at least once a week.
Can you vacuum carpet too much? ›
Thankfully, that isn't the case. Generally, carpets can stand to be vacuumed several times a week without sustaining damage. Leaving dirt in a carpet, however, actually breaks down underneath the carpet fibers and creates a breeding ground for dust mites and bacteria.
Here are a few examples of duties you can't expect your housekeeper to perform: Deep cleaning or outdoor window washing. You'll want to hire a specialized cleaning service to come in and handle a job like this. Do not expect your housekeeper to climb on anything higher than a step stool.
What do maids do all day? ›
A housekeeper cleans buildings, including bedrooms, kitchens, living areas and bathrooms. This can include mopping floors, changing bed linen, vacuuming rooms, dusting shelves and cleaning windows.
Do you tip a housecleaner? ›
If your house cleaning service uses a team-cleaning approach, it's fine to give a $10 to $15 tip to be shared. If the same team cleans your home each week, you might want to tip once a month. If your house cleaners change from week to week, stick with tipping each visit.
How often should you dust with pets? ›
Once a week
If you have a pet that sheds minimally, a weekly vacuum may suffice. However, it's not a good idea to vacuum less often than this. Pets or no pets, weekly vacuuming is recommended by experts to maintain baseline cleanliness in your home.
Is it OK to vacuum once a week? ›
It depends on what needs vacuuming. Carpeted areas that aren't used by four-legged fur-friends should be vacuumed twice every week. Hardwood and tile need the least amount of upkeep and should be vacuum cleaned once per week.
How often should you vacuum carpet with pets? ›
Clean Twice a Week: Ideally, you should clean your dirty carpet twice a week. Most of the people, who have one dog, clean their carpet once in every three or four days. Clean Alternate Days: If you have more than one dog or a pet type that has big fur, then you might need to clean it every alternate day.
How often is it normal to dust your house? ›
Dusting Frequency for Optimal Home Health
In order to keep your home's air quality top-notch, you should be dusting at least every other week, if not weekly. Choose a time each week, like after you pick the kids up from soccer practice, to dust your house, or dust a certain area each day.
What happens if you don't vacuum for a month? ›
Since most soil is gritty and abrasive, the particles will begin to damage the carpet fibers unless vacuumed regularly. This damage is the main reason carpets age prematurely, so don't skip routine vacuuming just because your floor doesn't look like it needs it.
How often do you really need to clean your house? ›
High-traffic areas (kitchen, bathroom, entryway): Daily mopping is ideal. Lower-traffic areas (bedrooms, living room): Every other week or monthly mopping can suffice. Adjust for pets and spills: Increase mopping frequency if needed.
Does frequent vacuuming reduce dust? ›
Vacuuming regularly helps keep the dust from getting deeper into your carpets. On high-traffic areas, vacuum back and forth over the same spot to loosen and remove more dust.
